The Wind Harp (The Mountain Song Legacy #2) [Paperback]

B. J. Hoff (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 2006

B.J. Hoff’s unforgettable characters from A Distant Music reunite for an even more gripping, dramatic episode in The Mountain Song Legacy.

When Maggie MacAuley returns to the small coal town of her childhood, she has no intention of staying. Her life is in Chicago now. There’s nothing to keep her in Skingle Creek...

...nothing but the discovery that a man who has lived most of his life for the children of Skingle Creek is no longer the hero of Maggie’s childhood but seems destined to become the love of her life.

In Maggie’s quest for independence, she finds her greatest strength in sacrifice...and in her struggle to heal her family, she finds her heart renewed by love.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

B.J. Hoff is an accomplished author whose books have received numerous honors, including Christianity Today’s Critics’ Choice Book Award for fiction, a number of Excellence in Media Silver Angel awards, and recognition as a Gold Medallion finalist. Hoff’s historical fiction, including the bestselling An Emerald Ballad, reflects her desire to make stories set in the past relevant to the present. She and her husband reside in Ohio, where they share a love of music, books, and time spent with their family.

Product Details

• Paperback: 254 pages
• Publisher: Harvest House Publishers (August 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0736914587
• ISBN-13: 978-0736914581
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #585,627 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

BJ Hoff's writing is known for her historical settings, her unforgettable characters, and her lyrical prose. She is the bestselling author of numerous historical fiction series, including the Riverhaven Years, the Mountain Song Legacy, the Song of Erin saga, the American Anthem series, and An Emerald Ballad series.

Her five-volume Emerald Ballad series was the first major work of fiction to bring the Irish immigration experience to the CBA marketplace-and the work that first brought BJ an international reading audience.

Her readers know they can expect to meet some memorable people in her novels and also know that many of those people will be immigrants-Irish immigrants particularly but not exclusively.

BJ admits to a passion for "building worlds." Whether her characters move about in small country towns or metropolitan areas, reside in Amish settlements, secluded mansions, or coal company houses, she creates communities where people can form relationships, raise families, pursue their faith, and experience the mountains and valleys of life.

She's intent on making her historical novels relevant to the present by developing characters and settings that, while staying true to the history and culture of their times, reflect many of the spiritual trials and social problems faced by contemporary readers. Her novels are meant to be "stories that build a bridge from the past to the present."

Her literary awards include the Christianity Today's Critics Choice Book Award for fiction; a Gold Medallion Award finalist; and a number of Excellence in Media Silver Angel awards. Her books have been translated into many foreign languages, and she frequently hears from her international readers in countries such as Ireland, England, Norway, and Germany.

A former church music director and music teacher, BJ is a member of the Authors Guild, the Irish American Cultural Institute, and the Appalachian Writers Association.

She writes from her home in a small town in east central Ohio. She and her husband share a love of music, books, and time spent with their family: two married daughters, three lively young grandsons, a loopy Golden Retriever, and a cunning, incorrigible but lovable cat.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Delightful, Heart-warming Romance!, September 10, 2006

By 

Jill E. Smith "Writer - Visit me at www.jille... (Southeastern Lower, MI United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Wind Harp (The Mountain Song Legacy #2) (Paperback)

In THE WIND HARP, this sequel to A DISTANT MUSIC, author B.J. Hoff takes the story of Jonathan Stuart and Maggie MacAuley a step further, delving deeper into their character and crafting a tale that is truly compelling. These characters, which come to life in book one, take on a new dimension in book two, pulling the reader into Jonathan's and Maggie's worst fears and deepest dreams. A different take on an age old love story, Mrs. Hoff, shows us that the old adage is true - good things come to those who wait.

I love the way Mrs. Hoff draws me into each character's hopes and dreams, while weaving in enough mystery and drama to keep me turning pages. Not many books keep me thinking about them long after I set the book down, but Mrs. Hoff has such a wonderful way of bringing the characters to life on each page, that I feel like I know them - like they have become dear friends. Even the cover art on this book begs a romance. I found myself snatching a page here and there every chance I got. I can't wait to finish the saga with book three. I only wish we didn't have to wait six months for it to come out!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A beautiful love story, October 13, 2006

By 

Barbara Warren - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Wind Harp (The Mountain Song Legacy #2) (Paperback)

Maggie MacAuley has given up her position as a teacher at Hull House in Chicago and has returned home to Skingle Creek. At first she regretted her decision, but unlike her sisters, Eva Grace and Nell Frances, she has always had a love for Skingle Creek. Even the grimy layer of coal dust covering everything doesn't bother her.
There's trouble at home. Maggie's Da has been injured, working in the mines. He's in constant pain, her mother is older, frailer, and her fourteen year old brother, Ray, is rebellious. Maggie gets a job teaching at the Skingle Creek School, working with Mr. Stuart, her beloved former teacher, mentor and friend. Then Eva Grace comes home and Maggie isn't sure of anything anymore
B.J. Hoff creates characters who live in the heart of the reader. I've never been to Skingle Creek, but I know it and I know the people who live there. Her writing style has all the melody and grace of an Irish harp. She never disappoints.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Peace in the Valley, October 9, 2006

By 

Virginia Gal - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Wind Harp (The Mountain Song Legacy #2) (Paperback)

There's an old gospel song titled "Peace In the Valley." BJ Hoff's latest book puts me in mind of that song. The Wind Harp does not depend upon "sensationalism" to create its moving story; like a cup of ice-cold water on a hot summer day, or sitting under a big old tree by a gently running stream, The Wind Harp draws the reader in to sit for a spell. They are refreshed, and never want to leave. As always, BJ's hallmark characterization is supplemented by her skilled depiction of both the light and dark sides of life, presented with a beautiful simplicity that made my heart sing along with the story.

If you're after a book that leaves you feeling good about life, or feeling hope about life regardless of circumstances, or just feeling refreshed after reading a wonderful story--don't miss The Wind Harp.